If you have been in construction for any length of time, you know the feeling of chasing crews. You show up at the job site and half your guys are missing. One is working on another project. Another called in sick. Before long you are standing there wondering how you are supposed to hit the schedule you promised your client.
The truth is, crew problems usually come down to planning and communication. Contractors who seem like they always have people where they need them are not lucky. They are organized. Here are three things you can do to get control of your crews.
1. Lay out the schedule before the job starts.
If you do not know exactly what work is happening on which days, you are asking for trouble. Do not wait until the night before to decide what you need your crews to do. Create a clear schedule before you ever break ground. Include key dates like inspections, deliveries, and crew changes. The more you map out ahead of time, the smoother things will go.
2. Share it clearly with your people.
Do not assume your guys know the plan just because you mentioned it once. Crews get busy, and jobs change fast. The key is clear, consistent communication. Write things down. Send texts or group messages. Post schedules where everyone can see them. When your crew knows the plan, they are much more likely to show up where and when you need them.
3. Track hours daily.
One of the easiest ways to lose control is letting hours slip. If you are not tracking crew hours daily, you will not see problems until they are already costing you money. Use a notebook, spreadsheet, or better yet, a software tool like ProfitDig that ties labor costs directly into your job tracking. This way, you can spot issues before they turn into disasters.
When you get serious about scheduling and tracking, something amazing happens: your crews stop running the job. You start running the job. And when you run the job, you finish on time, keep clients happy, and protect your profits.
The bottom line is this: chasing crews does not have to be a way of life in construction. Get organized, communicate clearly, and track costs daily. Do these things and your guys will be chasing success with you, not the other way around.